Pakistan captain Shan Masood has praised Kamran Ghulam for his impressive debut century against England in the second Test, acknowledging the immense pressure of replacing Babar Azam, one of the world’s best batters. Masood noted that Ghulam’s performance was special, especially given the circumstances of his debut, and that the team was fully supportive of him from the start ¹.
Ghulam’s century was a testament to his skill and composure, as he navigated a challenging pitch and helped Pakistan reach a respectable 259/5 at stumps on Day 1. His innings of 118 off 224 balls, including 11 fours and a six, not only steadied the Pakistani innings but also earned him a place in the record books as the 13th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut ² ³.
Masood’s praise was echoed by Babar Azam himself, who took to Instagram to congratulate Ghulam on his performance, saying “Well played Kamran” ³. Ghulam’s success has silenced critics who questioned his selection, with many now hailing him as the “perfect replacement” for Azam.
Ghulam’s achievement is all the more impressive given the pressure he faced, not just from replacing Azam but also from the scrutiny of the media and fans. However, he has proven himself to be more than capable of handling the spotlight, and his performance has provided Pakistan with a significant boost ahead of future matches ².
